Gastroenteritis and Back Pain

Gastroenteritis is a medical term that refers to the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. It is caused due to the proliferation of disease causing agents in the gastrointestinal tract. Whenever pathogens such as bacteria or viruses enter any part of the gastrointestinal tract, and start multiplying within, one is most likely to experience distressing symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea or loss of appetite as a result of inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Besides these characteristic signs of gastroenteritis, one may even experience back pain. Here's some information on why gastroenteritis may cause back pain, along with the circumstances under which one may suffer from gastroenteritis.

What Causes Gastroenteritis?
As mentioned earlier, gastroenteritis occurs as a result of proliferation of pathogens in the stomach or the intestines. More often than not, gastroenteritis is caused due to viruses, however, bacteria, fungi or other parasites could also be responsible for causing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Gastroenteritis incubation period usually depends on the causal organism. While diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort are the common symptoms of viral gastroenteritis, one may also experience flu-like symptoms such as malaise, headaches, body aches or fever. This is the reason why, viral gastroenteritis is also referred to as stomach flu. Rotaviruses, adenoviruses or noroviruses are some of the viruses that are responsible for causing stomach flu.

Gastroenteritis may also be caused due to consumption of contaminated food or water. Ingesting food that is not prepared in a hygienic manner, is one of the most common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis. Bacteria that are commonly responsible for causing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract include Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella. Presence of heavy metals such as lead, mercury or arsenic in water could also give rise to accumulation of toxins in the digestive tract, and thus, make one susceptible to gastroenteritis. Inflammation of the digestive tract could also occur if one has been taking certain medications for a prolonged period of time. Prolonged use of antibiotics disturbs the balance of friendly bacteria and other microbes in the digestive tract and puts one at an increased risk of developing infections. Those who have a weakened immune system are also at a greater risk of developing such infections.

Can Gastroenteritis Cause Back Pain?
As mentioned earlier, abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea, bloating and vomiting are some of the common symptoms of gastroenteritis. Since one may lose bodily fluids due to diarrhea or vomiting, one may even become dehydrated. Severe dehydration could even make one feel lightheaded. One may also feel lightheaded or weak due to dehydration. Many times, people experience mid-back pain during bouts of gastroenteritis. Well, back pain that one may experience at this time, is mainly a referred pain. A referred pain is a pain that is felt at a site, which is away from the actual source. While it is the gastrointestinal tract that is affected by the pathogenic infection, the pain from the gastrointestinal tract could radiate to the other areas. Excessive buildup of gas that often accompanies gastroenteritis, may also be the underlying cause of back pain. When there is excessive production of gas, and this intestinal gas cannot be expelled, it may exert pressure and cause pain in abdomen. While one is most likely to experience tightness or a knotted feeling in the stomach, pain may get referred to the back region. Recurring gas pains in back are indicative of a weak digestive system, and such people must make lifestyle changes or follow certain remedies to prevent excessive buildup of gas.

How to Treat Gastroenteritis?
Wondering how long would one take to recover from gastroenteritis? Well, gastroenteritis duration would vary depending on the extent of inflammation. Gastroenteritis usually resolves within a couple of weeks. Since vomiting and diarrhea during gastroenteritis cause fluid loss and may leave one feeling very weak, there's a great need to make up for the loss of fluids. Drinking an oral rehydration solution can help to prevent severe dehydration. If the diagnostic tests reveal bacteria to be the causal organism, doctors may also prescribe antibiotics for preventing the bacteria from growing further. One can also consume probiotic foods to restore microbial balance in the gastrointestinal tract. While doctors may prescribe drugs in order to treat diarrhea, they often ask patients to comply with the guidelines on gastroenteritis diet. One is asked to refrain from eating fried or fatty foods until one's digestive system recovers. One must start with foods that can be digested easily. Uncooked meat can make one susceptible to gastroenteritis which is why there's a great need to ensure that food is cooked well. One must also refrain from consuming foods that are known for causing gas.

This was some information on why some people experience back pain during bouts of gastroenteritis. Excessive buildup of gas is believed to be the link between gastroenteritis and back pain. While doctors may prescribe drugs for treating infection and inflammation, there's a great need to comply to the dietary guidelines. Gastroenteritis is mainly a food borne ailment, and following a healthy diet may help in preventing a recurrence of gastroenteritis in future.